Grades 3-4

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Grade 3
 Goal: to help the child come to a deeper understanding of the Church as a community of faith which he/she belongs.
Instructional Objectives:

1. The Incarnation
2. Mary’s role in God’s plan
3. The structure of the Church community
4. The 7 Sacraments

  
 Vocabulary (new to grade)
 Apostles Creed – a statement of belief.
Assumption of Mary – when Mary rose to Heaven to live with God and Jesus.
Confirmation – the sacrament in which the Holy Spirit comes to us in a special way to give us courage to live as Jesus’ disciples.
Creator – a name for God who made the universe and everything in it.

•  “I believe”  

Immaculate Conception –from the moment that Mary’s life began, Mary was free of all sin.

• God becoming human to save us from sin.

Justice – a concern for fairness, peace and a genuine respect for others.
Mystery – something that is difficult or impossible to explain or understand.
Pentecost – the day the Holy Spirit came to the disciples

• being saved from sin.

• a kind of prayer in honor of Mary.

  
Prayers to Know:
Apostles Creed     Twenty Mysteries of the Rosary
 
Lesson Themes

• An overview of the Old testament and the inability for God’s people to understand how to love one another
• The Christmas Story (Incarnation)
• The Pentecost Story
• The Immaculate Conception
• Mary as Mother of God
• The Assumption
• The Church as the People of God
• The Church as the Mystical Body of Christ
• The 7 Sacraments

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Grade 4
Goal: To help the student understand that followers of Jesus are called to share the Good News of Jesus with others and to build the Kingdom of God on earth by living as a disciple of Jesus.
Instructional Objectives:

1. The Creed
2. God’s chosen people
3. Mary said “yes” to God
4. Jesus as Savior
5. 10 Commandments, New Commandments, Beatitudes
6. Prayer

 
Vocabulary
Ark of the Covenant – a box of wood that was covered with pure gold, which stored the tablets that the 10 Commandments were carved on.
Beatitudes – Guidelines for true happiness taught by Jesus
Consecration- the part of the Mass when the priest says the same words as Jesus did over the bread and the wine.
Covenant – An agreement or promise between God and his people
Kingdom of God – the term used by Jesus to describe the power of God’s love active in our world
Manna – food which was supplied by a miracle to the Israelites in the wilderness
New Covenant – a new relationship between God and humans, declaring Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
Prophet – someone who brings a message from God to people
Salvation History – the story of God’s plan to forgive the sins of his people and restore them to his friendship
Savior – a name for Jesus. He became man to save all human beings from sin and death
Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy – ways we care about one another’s physical and spiritual needs
Tabernacle – a golden treasure box used to house the Eucharist outside of Mass
Witness – one who can give evidence based on personal and immediate knowledge of a fact, event, or experience
 
Prayers and Concepts to Know:
Acts of Faith, Hope and Love (simple form)
How to Say the Rosary
Ten Commandments
Order of the Mass
Examination of Conscience
Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy
 
Lesson Themes

• Be familiar with New Testament figures, including the 12 Apostles and 4 Evangelists
• God as Creator of all things out of Love
• God chose the Jewish people to be His own and to help prepare for the coming of the Savior
• Mary as chosen by God to be the Mother of the Savior
• Mary said “Yes” to God and is our model of faith and obedience to God
• Jesus as God’s only begotten Son, and God’s greatest gift of love to us
• Jesus as the Way to the Father and to eternal happiness​